Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

MESSAGE, n. Also messige. Sc. usage: a visit to a shop to make purchases, most commonly in pl. of the purchases made, one's shopping. Gen.Sc. Phr. to go the messages, to do one's shopping. Comb. message boy, an errand-boy. Gen.Sc.
Sc. 1788 Caled. Mag. (Sept.) 516: Janet Baxter . . . said she was out a message about eight o'clock on the evening of the robbery.Kcb. 1896 CrockettCleg Kelly vii.: I came . . . to ask about the situation of message-boy.wm.Sc. 1903 S. MacplowterMrs. McCraw 30: A'd tae keep the bairn at hame tae rin the messiges.m.Sc. 1917 O. DouglasThe Setons iii., x.: A message-boy went past, with his empty basket over his head, whistling a doleful tune. . . . He went to school (except when he “plunk't”), ran messages for shops.Arg. 1952 N. MitchisonLobsters on the Agenda i.: I'll get my messages at the shop while I'm down.Gsw. 1957 Bulletin (2 March): Because their wives could not buy their weekly messages on Friday nights over 100 men staged a lightning strike in Glasgow yesterday.